Just the Funny Parts: ... And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into the Hollywood Boys' Club

by Nell Scovell Narrated by Amy Hohn

Overview

You've almost certainly laughed at Scovell's jokes-you just didn't know it until now.

Just the Funny Parts is a juicy and scathingly funny insider look at how pop culture gets made. For more than thirty years, writer, producer and director Nell Scovell worked behind the scenes of iconic TV shows, including The Simpsons, Late Night with David Letterman, Murphy Brown, NCIS, The Muppets, and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, which she created and executive produced.

In 2009, Scovell gave up her behind-the-scenes status when the David Letterman sex scandal broke. Only the second woman ever to write for his show, Scovell used the moment to publicly call out the lack of gender diversity in late-night TV writers' rooms. “One of the boys” came out hard for “all of the girls.” Her criticisms fueled a cultural debate. Two years later, Scovell was collaborating with Sheryl Sandberg on speeches and later on Lean In, which resulted in a worldwide movement.

Now Scovell is opening up with this fun, honest, and often shocking account. Scovell knows what it's like to put words in the mouths of President Barack Obama, Mark Harmon, Candice Bergen, Bob Newhart, Conan O'Brien, Alyssa Milano, and Kermit the Frog, among many others. Through her eyes, you'll sit in the Simpson writers' room... stand on the Oscar red carpet... pin a tail on Miss Piggy...bond with Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy... and experience a Stephen King-like encounter with Stephen King.

Just the Funny Parts is a fast-paced account of a nerdy girl from New England who fought her way to the top of the highly-competitive, male-dominated entertainment field. The book delivers invaluable insights into the creative process and tricks for navigating a difficult workplace. It's part memoir, part how-to, and part survival story. Or, as Scovell puts it, “It's like Unbroken, but funnier and with slightly less torture.”

This book is a perfect gift for any woman who loves the entertainment industry and wants to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes.

With its mix of memoir, how-to, and survival story, it's sure to be a hit with anyone who appreciates a good laugh and some valuable insights into the creative process.

HarperCollins 2024

Editorial Reviews

Samantha Bee

Nell is an incredible writer, and this book is just as amazing as I would expect. I particularly liked page XX.” (page Bee is mentioned on)

Bette Midler

Nell Scovell has finally written the book that everyone in the comedy world has been waiting for!  Besides being one of the funniest people I know; she has not just survived, but she has made a pretty great living as a comedy writer for years on end. That alone makes this book worth reading.  How the hell did she do it??  Crack it open and find out!

Adam Grant

I’ve known for a while that Nell is an unusually talented and funny writer, but I had no idea just how much she shaped the TV that I’ve watched for decades—or how much bias she faced along the way. Despite that (and sometimes because of it), this book was a delight to read. It’s full of jokes that made me laugh and sharp analyses that made me think.

Jeffrey Toobin

Just the Funny Parts is, like Nell Scovell herself, funny as hell. Laugh-out-loud, chuckles, eye rolls, embarrassed (for Nell) giggles—it’s all there. But there’s a lot more, too. This is a smart, wise book about growing up, growing old(er), and most of all, what it means to be a woman in a man’s world. That’s no joke. (But it is, as I mentioned, funny.)

John Oliver

This clear eyed account of 30 years in a profoundly flawed industry is the funniest, most unflinching book I’ve read in a long time. I laughed out loud so many times. If you’ve ever watched TV, you should read this book. And if you’ve ever read a book, you should read this one, too.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170298648
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/20/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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